Proposed State Budget to Impact Local Developmental Disabilities Programs and Providers

(New Philadelphia, Ohio) – TuscBDD members discuss the two-year state budget and the positive impact on early intervention services.

At the June 2019 regularly scheduled Board meeting for the Tuscarawas County
Board of Developmental Disabilities (TuscBDD), members discussed the two-year state budget proposal and the positive, local impact it will have on early intervention services and direct support wages.

“There are a number of items that will affect children, adults, and families in a positive way here in Tuscarawas County,” expressed Nate Kamban, TuscBDD’s Superintendent. The budget proposes to increase funding for early intervention services, which will provide 24.4 million dollars statewide over the next two years for services that support children with developmental disabilities, lead exposure, or who were born with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). “At a local level and throughout the nation, we are experiencing a high rate of children being born with NAS that require services and supports from multiple agencies including our own, so the state budget proposal will assist with strengthening supports and hopefully expand the work being done to offer services to children and their families in those circumstances,” furthered Kamban.

Another positive development in the state budget is the proposal to increase the Medicaid reimbursement rate for specific services provided by Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). This position requires employees of private agency providers of services to people with developmental disabilities to be skilled in many roles. Currently, in Ohio and across the country, there is a shortage of DSPs. The state along with advocate agencies and County Boards of Developmental Disabilities have seen the need to increase this rate in an effort to recruit and retain caregivers.

The DSP shortage has been noted locally as well. “Next month, TuscBDD and local agency providers are teaming up to host a career fair at Tuscora Park,” expressed Chris Sapp, TuscBDD’s Community Connections Specialist. “Our goal is to bring awareness to the field in hopes of attracting people to fill the positions.” The Provider Career Fair
will take place at Tuscora Park on August 21 from 10 am until 1 pm at the Tuscora Park Dining Hall.

TuscBDD and local providers of services for people with developmental disabilities will offer information and applications for
open job positions.

The next Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 19th at 5:30 PM. This meeting will take place at TuscBDD’s Service and Support Center located at 610 Commercial Ave. SW in New Philadelphia. More information about TuscBDD’s programs and services can be found online at http://www.tuscbdd.org, http://www.facebook.com/tuscbdd, or http://www.twitter.com/tuscbdd.